Wing Sbu Nkosi and centre Lukhanyo Am scored first-half tries as a strong South Africa A side inflicted a first defeat of the tour on the British and Irish Lions with a 17-13 win in what was dubbed an unofficial fourth Test in Cape Town.
Lions coach Warren Gatland had said the contest would be a good indicator of where his side are ahead of three Tests against the world champion Springboks starting next week, and there will be some concern.
They were better in the scrums and controlled possession through the phases well, but struggled with the physicality of their opponents and were regularly beaten back in the tackle. It will only get harder against the full-strength Boks.
Prop Wyn Jones scored the only try for the tourists, who will get a much easier ride when they play the Cape Town-based Stormers on Saturday in their last game before the Test series starts on July 24.
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
“We needed a hit out against a strong side, the physicality was a different level tonight. We learned a lot of things,” Lions captain Conor Murray said at the post-match presentation.
“But we can be proud, we came back from 17-3 down and corrected things in the second half. It was really physical, we haven’t come up against that yet on this tour and the breakdown will be huge in this series.
“The loss doesn’t mean a lot, we can learn from the first half, that if we start slowly against this side we will lose.”
With 18 members of the Boks’ World Cup-winning squad in the match-day 23, it was in truth a South Africa A+, but they were also a side coming off six days stuck in their hotel rooms last week due to COVID-19 cases in the group and just a handful of training sessions leading into the game.
They were first on the board with an early penalty and then scored the opening try as Owen Farrell’s kick was charged down by Eben Etzebeth and Nkosi was sent on his way in a sprint with the retreating Lions defence.
Liam Williams, who was a late replacement into the side for expectant father Josh Adams, was replaced 14 minutes in by Elliot Daly after a crunching tackle from Etzebeth in what will be a concern for Gatland.
Farrell landed a penalty, but the brilliant quick feet and electric pace of Cheslin Kolbe saw him bamboozle defenders Chris Harris and Louis Rees-Zammit before sending Am away for the second home try.
(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The home side lost Faf de Klerk and Marco van Staden to yellow cards within a minute of each other just before halftime as the Lions battered their line from close range, but still they held the visitors at bay to lead 17-3 at the break.
The Lions finally made that numerical advantage pay when Jones burrowed over from close range four minutes into the second period.
But the home side finished the stronger and the Lions barely had a sniff of the try line after that, bar a Rees-Zammit try that was chalked off for a double movement as he placed the ball.
“I’m proud of the team, we now know where we are at, and we can analyse where we need to improve,” home captain Am said.
“We are happy with the performance and excited to be back in the mix. There is lots to build on. It was a tough outing, we certainly took some knocks and bruises.”
USrugger
Roar Rookie
As it should be. I've said before: there are steps to be taken to fully integrate all aspects of life. How lucky SA rugby is to 'find' a population of 50m from which to pick extraordinary athletes. Anyone that cannot see the value in this, is simply not thinking critically. Kolisi led South Africa to a World CUp victory, FFS! The defining moments of that WC were the tries by Mapimpi - set up by Am's brilliance - & Kolbe's grand finale! I celebrate & delight in their inclusion.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that Rhino, I’ve been out of the loop in regards to their movements/games etc, cheers.
Peter
Guest
Agree regarding Kolisi. If you’re a SA citizen you know why he was chosen as captain(not for his playing ability or leadership skills) and that politics play a large role in our sport where we have government pressure to be “demographically representative”.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Why?… Within SA there has been widespread criticism of Kolisi’s extensive extraneous commercial activities which has led to the perception that its negatively affected his game.. This perception ably supported by his less than impressive form this season.. That’s all OK but for one tiny problem.. He is untouchable.. Any coach dropping him will quickly join the fast expanding unemployment lines in the country. There is something very wrong with that picture… Marco Van Staden, Wiese, Ackermann etc all playing better rugby but they have to compete for a place not with an ordinary rugby player but a political entity….Nienaber and Co may still think he is the best option but we will never know because Kolisi is an untouchable.. This is leading to resentment which won’t surprise me if it also manifests itself in the change room especially if he doesn’t pull his weight… Rumors flew when he left The Stormers for the Sharks that the Stormers not unhappy to see the back of him.. . As for the Poster Boy description, just a drive around the freeways of JHB and being confronted with constant images of Kolisi on billboards etc says it all. I want the best available player in the team and right now Kolisi is not it.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
They’ve been playing rugby since November or December last year, so a hang of a lot more than 500 minutes. Last year, none of the SA based players had played rugby, or even trained properly since early March 2020 when Covid hit, due to government restrictions. The contrast between 2020 and 2021 couldn’t be more different.
USrugger
Roar Rookie
Well...why 'poster boy'?? Is it because he is so worthy...or is it a slight? Personally I think he is the Poster Man for today's South African rugger.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Genuine question: did the Springbok players get their required 500mins of game time before this game was played? Or does this count towards their mins needed before they can play the “actual” tests?
Harry Jones
Expert
The tip-off to that was when Gats tapped and went 100 times —- from 5 m —- up two players! Hahaha! Optimal training.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
I agree, The Boks first choice XV is better than the Lions dito (and better than anyone else in the rugby world). And yeah, it was not a proper Test match, lots of smoke and mirrors from both teams. No-one wants to give away anything.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Try not to live up to every Bok fan stereotype, Wayne.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
One day you will see the light, dear Harry ;)
Harry Jones
Expert
Maro Itoje had one of his best matches in SA. Probably THE best. Looked amped. Defensively, strong. Not as into his carrying abrasion. Just needs to go lower.
Harry Jones
Expert
The most? A player on the team that lost! The best, most dominant tackles? PSDT!
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, the Lions best-of-best format allows Gats to have no drop off from 1-23. But, when it’s first XV vs first XV, I think there’s a power-pace edge for SA. Small. Like every margin in elite sport. That’s really all I got from this match. Both coaches showed less than full attack.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
It's an interesting perspective that the Boks have the edge when it comes to physicality but if the Test series becomes a brutal last man standing affair, Lions might have the edge due to more depth. And here is a quiz question for you: who made the most tackles in the WC final 2019?
Harry Jones
Expert
I think the 1H showed the 80% Boks are the more physically hard team, and possibly more athletic, BUT (and it’s a big but, like Coenie has) the Lions have more depth, and the Boks are going to need all their big boys on the pitch to win. I think it’ll be close. But vantage SA.
Sherry
Guest
Harry, that try line stand by the Boks was tremendous. And the Lions refused to spin the ball wide, just kept plugging away at the line and ended up losing possession. That's symptomatic of NH rugby where an attacking midfield often mean a kicking midfield rather than a running one. Boks will win the series handily.
Harry Jones
Expert
Two canny coaches probably got about what they wanted from that sparring bout. If given truth serum, Rassie a bit happier. He will know Pollard + Malherbe + Kolisi + Lood immediately is a 5-10 point swing. Also, his midfield looked very useful. He won’t like the Willie ding. EE + Mostert look ready to rumble. But Gats took plenty — he can tell his squad they absolutely can win a series in SA versus SA. He has some easy fixes; a few not so easy. I don’t think he’ll be happy about the first 30:00 collisions or Farrell-Murray kicking, or some of the scramble D on the Boks tries. All the talk of cards is beside the point. It was an exhibition match. Lots of caginess. For every issue (the Navidi latch getting Faffed) there was another (EE being tackled without the ball, as he was supporting Kolbe—easily a YC). Faf did use arms on the carrier; the latcher did get headed by Faf. Jaco got it reversed! Really good to watch proper smash mouth rugby again. Lions will only get better. Boks too. Game on!
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
No, no CPM. There's no need to bring vision and replays into the equation. Pointless and unnecessary. Marius and Jaco did a superb job of convincing each other there was no head contact in the no wrap, lead with the shoulder contact. None at all. Nothing. Even though Faf even grabs his own noggin after contact and we all watched it countless times. Nothing to see here. If a prop had puled that stunt, even they couldn't have ignored it I hope he isn't cited, so we at least start the series proper with as many bodies as possible.
Double Agent
Guest
Maybe the lack of an actual crowd contributed but the complete lack of urgency by both sides to actually setting set pieces in this match was even worse than usual. And usual is already unbearable. There's still a TV audience that actually pays the bills and can at the touch of a button be distracted away from the spectacle of 30 men chatting,drinking water,laying down,getting physio for five minutes before every scrum and lineout. FFS Wake Up you are in a contest with thousands of other sports and entertainments for the punter's Dollar!!!! :angry: :angry: :shocked: